Assessment of Economic Damage to the Ecosystem from Pollutant Emissions During the Transition of the Territory to Sustainability

The ecological sustainability of the territory and the assimilation potential of the ecosystem (APTE) are not directly involved in substantiating the cost of emissions. The aim of this study is to develop a methodology for assessing economic damage from environmental pollution (EDFEP), considering the concept of sustainability. The task was solved in the context of a critical and strong sustainability concept, using the maximum allowable load on the ecosystem (MALOTE) as a criterion for environmental sustainability. The APTE, cost method, and life cycle concept were also used. As a result, the traditional concept of assessing EDFEP has been supplemented, based on an assessment of the cost of eliminating and compensating for possible or identified consequences from environmental pollution. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the costs of preventing them using the APTE. The novelty of the approach for assessing economic damage to the ecosystem (EDTTE) lies in assessing the costs of forming and maintaining ecosystem elements with sufficient assimilation potential (AP) to prevent negative consequences for human health, and to protect natural and man-made objects from environmental pollution. The equivalent of EDTTE is the cost of APTE to neutralize the considered mass of pollutant emissions. Specific EDTTE is proposed to be defined as the ratio of the costs of forming and maintaining ecosystem elements with AP to the MALOTE of carbon monoxide. It is possible to evaluate the EDTTE regarding any element of the ecosystem that has an AP. This method makes it possible to increase the adequacy of assessing the consequences of pollution in the territory relative to sustainability goal.